It’s a bold strategy Carter – let’s see if it pays off for him.
Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, at one point considered the top overall prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft before legal issues and a poor pro day caused him to slip, is only meeting with teams who pick in the top 10, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN.
Carter was widely considered a potential No. 1 overall pick before he was linked to a deadly crash in Georgia that occurred after the Bulldogs won the 2023 national championship.
He was charged with reckless driving for allegedly racing against a vehicle carrying lineman Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy, both of whom were killed when the car struck a power pole in Athens, Ga. on Jan. 14.
Carter pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor and was sentenced to 12 months of probation, 80 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.
The 22-year-old learned of the charges during the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, and was forced to leave in the middle of it to turn himself in.
A few weeks later at Georgia’s pro day, Carter struggled with on-field position drills and was unable to finish the day, suffering from cramping and appearing out of breath.
He also showed up nine pounds overweight.
There has been a prevailing thought that Carter could slide in this month’s draft in wake of the poor testing and legal concerns, and Rosenhaus appears to be trying to get ahead of it.
That said, should all 10 teams picking early in the draft be concerned enough to pass on the talented interior lineman, the plan could backfire, and Carter could potentially find himself out of the first round entirely.
Teams interested in Carter would ostensibly like to meet with him to hear his side of the story; what happens when a team drafting in the teens doesn’t have that face-to-face with him, and doesn’t feel comfortable taking him with a first-round selection?
“I’m confident Jalen will go in the top 10,” Rosenhaus told ESPN. “He’s a good person, a family man, loves football and is a generational talent.”
Only time will tell if this wild gamble is a worthwhile one.